Free Death at the Beggar's Opera by Deryn Lake Page A

again?’
    ‘Yes. This time we are hunting down the murderer of Mr Jasper Harcross, the actor.’ John said the words slowly and deliberately, knowing how much the little girl relished the details of what was going on, but all the while with a decided twinkle in his eye. ‘And now may I present my father to you?’ And with great solemnity he went through the rituals of introduction.
    The child adored it, miniature adult that she already was, and curtsied and extended her hand as neatly as any woman of society.
    ‘I hope one day to have the honour of your close acquaintance,’ Sir Gabriel said very seriously, and was rewarded with a swift kiss on the cheek.
    ‘Shall I take her away?’ said Elizabeth. ‘Do you gentlemen want to discuss the case?’
    ‘Oh, let her stay,’ answered her husband affably. ‘I only want to talk about the characters involved in the affair, one of the most interesting of whom is a child.’
    ‘Who? Who?’ asked Mary Ann excitedly.
    ‘Will, the theatre boy. As I told you, Mr Rawlings, I am leaving you to interview him directly. But I have in the meantime found out a great deal about him. It appears that he is indeed a foundling but was taken from the Hospital by Jasper Harcross himself, after which David Garrick gave him the job of dogsbody. Drury Lane is the boy’s home, he knows no other. When I expressed surprise at this I was told that it is not the first time such a thing has happened. Adam Verity, the young man who plays Filch, also began his theatre career in that way, after having run away from his foster mother.’
    ‘Tell me about the others you questioned,’ said John. ‘Is there anybody who cannot answer for themselves?’
    ‘Several,’ answered the Blind Beak, almost with an air of triumph. ‘And for that reason I have asked Joe Jago to make a list so that you might quiz them further, Mr Rawlings.’
    ‘But why me? Wouldn’t one of your regular Runners do it better?’
    ‘I trust your eyes, Sir. I trust your eyes.’
    ‘Oh don’t be sad, Uncle,’ said Mary Ann, suddenly throwing herself into John Fielding’s arms and looking very tearful. ‘It doesn’t matter that you can’t see, truly it doesn’t. Mr Rawlings will help you. Won’t you, Sir?’
    The Blind Beak picked the child up and placed her on his knee, planting a kiss on her cheek, which turned the colour of a wild strawberry.
    ‘There now, I’m not miserable. I was just telling our friend what great faith I have in him.’
    Sir Gabriel laughed, a golden sound. ‘D’you know, John, I always thought that marvellous memory of yours would stand you in good stead.’
    ‘But only on alternate days it would seem,’ the Apothecary answered, and slowly smiled his crooked smile.

Chapter Six
    The next morning dawning very bright and fair, a crisp and sparkling autumn day, John set off for his shop in Shug Lane with his spirits much revived by the sunshine. Meanwhile, Sir Gabriel, creature of the night though this outward appearance might suggest him to be, had risen early and, having breakfasted lightly, set forth in a sedan chair to find John an assistant. ‘It’s a pity that I haven’t my own apprentice,’ the Apothecary had said as they had parted company.
    ‘Well, you won’t get one until you’re made Free and there’s an end to it.’
    ‘Free!’ John had exclaimed sarcastically. ‘I vow and declare there’s some kind of spell on me and the Court.’
    And it was true that he had been most unfortunate with his application to be made Free of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries. The after effects resulting from his first involvement with a case of murder had ruled out his attending the June Private Court Day. However, in August he had finally managed to attend the Court, but it had broken up just before his application to be admitted to his Freedom had been heard. Then, in October, urgent attendance at the site of a street accident had once more stopped him from going. And now it was